Opening churches: Bishops fault cap on faithful

Two Bishops in Kisii have called on the government to allow more Christians to attend church saying the maximum 100 faithful per service was unrealistic.

Bishop Alfayo Omesa, the overseer of Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church in Nyamira and Bishop John Omangi of the Anglican Church of Kenya Kisii Diocese, said that if only 100 people were allowed per service some churches may be forced to conduct up to 20 sessions to accommodate all.

Speaking at Saint Phillips ACK Church in Kisii Town yesterday, the clerics urged the government to allow each church to ensure social distance based on the size of the congregation.

“We are appealing to the government to be fair to the churches since we do not understand why the same conditions have not been set for those going to the markets or those going to social places yet the church where people are going to worship seems to have tougher conditions,” said Omesa.

The bishops said that it was not logical to bar those below 13 years and those above 58 years from going to church yet they are not barred from visiting other places.

They said while they support guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the government should not be a stumbling block to worship in church.

Omangi called on the government to audit banking institutions to ensure they have credit facilities to cushion Kenyans against challenges posed by CovidD-19 without discrimination.

"Banks were supposed to support government efforts to cushion Kenyans against challenges posed by Covid-19,” said Omangi.